Australia is home to extraordinary reptiles and frogs, from giant lace monitors to tiny alpine froglets. Over 1,100 reptiles and 250 frog species are found across the Australian continent and islands. But we are losing them.

So far, one of Australia’s reptiles has become extinct, the delicate Christmas Island forest skink. And seven frogs are thought to be lost forever, including the only two species of gastric brooding frog – famous for their ability to brood their young in the female’s stomach.

We wanted to know how are other frogs and reptiles were faring. So, for the first time, we asked frog and reptile experts to contribute to the Threatened Species Index (TSX). This index uses robust and reliable data to measure changes in the relative abundance of Australia’s threatened and near-threatened species.

In all, we compiled data for 28 species of frogs and 24 species of reptiles. Unfortunately, the results were sobering. The first national monitoring dataset reveals their numbers have declined by 96% on average since 1985.

First, we urge caution with these findings because key datasets are yet to be included. But the trends are concerning.

Among the species and populations we gathered data for, declines among reptiles and frogs are steep: 94% on average for........

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